To Cruise or not to Cruise (and how to get there)
So you are going to Galapagos. The first thing to decide is whether to go on a cruise or travel independently. Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to go on a cruise to tour Galapagos. Read this post to help you decide. Click here.
Puerto Ayora
Start your trip with a tour of Puerto Ayora. Walk the main street and check out the restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. With the water on your left, walk to the far end of town. Here, you will find the dock for ferries and tour boats, the bus stop and a grocery store.
Then walk back on the waterfront side, known as the Malecon. Watch for seals, bright orange Sally Lightfoot crabs, herons and other seabirds. Above all, look for the Green Sea Turtles where there are no rocks and the water is clear. There is a small Museum of Nature after the Malecon ends (look for the big wooden tortoise out front). There is also an information centre near the museum.
The Charles Darwin Centre
Be sure to take in the Charles Darwin Centre at the north end of town. It is within walking distance. Here, you can learn about the Giant Tortoises, see them in various stages of growth and visit the breeding centre. You can see the taxidermized body of Lonesome George, the last tortoise from the island of Pinta. The tortoises on each island are unique. They have shells of different shapes and live in different habitats. As Lonesome George was the last of his species, the Pinta Island Tortoises are now extinct.
The Museum and Tijeretas Hill
The small museum on the main street in town is called the “Museum of Nature”. However, there is a better one in the hills south of town, called the “Galapagos Interpretation Centre” (Centro de Interpretación Ambiental). It is a bit too far to walk, so take a taxi (about $2). Behind the museum is a hiking trail that goes up to Tijeretas Hill. The trail is paved but steep, with quite a few stairs. There are fantastic views of the surrounding area from the top. The trail also branches off to a swimming hole and a lovely beach. You’ll need to pass through the museum to get to the hiking trail, so you can plan this trip only when the museum is open. The taxis are white pickup trucks that you can flag down in the street.
Tortuga Bay
You can walk to Tortuga Bay, but I suggest going by ferry and walking back. It is an excellent place to spend some time and check out the Marine Iguanas. The trail back to town is paved, but it is 7.4 km and can be hot. Bring water. Ask any travel agent about tickets.
The Fish Market
Check out the fish market at the north end of town. There is always something interesting happening there, from Brown Pelicans looking for a meal to iguanas under the tables.
El Chato Tortoise Reserve
The Darwin Centre is definitely not to be missed. You will learn a lot about tortoises and see captive tortoises at various stages of growth. However, the El Chato Tortoise Reserve is a must-see. Here, the tortoises are much bigger and are free-roaming for better photo opportunities.
Seymour Norte
Take a boat trip to the island of Seymour Norte. Here, you will get a chance to see marine birds nesting. The birds are very tame, and you can get within a few metres of them. Birds that you will see include the Great Frigatebird chick (photo above) and Blue-footed Boobies nesting with chicks, and many others.
After the island tour, you will have an opportunity to go snorkelling to see exotic fish and probably sea turtles. See my recommendation at the end of this post for where to buy tour tickets.
Isla Bartolome
Take a day trip to Isla Bartolome. This mostly barren island of volcanic rock and ash is fascinating. The boat ride to Bartolome is very nice and offers the opportunity to see many bird species at sea and on the islands. (See link below for Birding in Galapagos)
The hike to the top of Bartolome is a bit strenuous and involves climbing about 400 steps.
Day Trips
You can arrange day trips from Puerto Ayora, Villamil or Puerto Banquerizo Moreno. These trips are usually divided into two parts: the first is devoted to wildlife sightings, and the second is snorkelling. These trips go to many of the small islands. You will spend the day on a lovely, comfortable yacht with an excellent meal included.
Birding
If you are mainly interested in birding, check out my post on “Birding Galapagos Islands“
How to get to Galapagos
How to get to Galapagos. Things you need to know.
Galapagos Path
In Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, you can purchase tickets for day trips, ferries and flights to the other major islands. You can buy these tickets from any tour agency along the main street in Puerto Ayora. However, I recommend arranging your tours with Jorge at Galapagos Path. The tickets are the same as you can get at other agents, but what makes Galapagos Path better is the outstanding service. We bought our tour tickets there, and the owner went with us to the dock to ensure we got in the correct line for the proper boat. He even helped us with our luggage. On other tours, he picked us up from our accommodation in a taxi and ensured we boarded the correct boat or bus. I highly recommend this tour agency. It is located just up from the main street on Islas Plazas Street. Also, check their reviews on TripAdvisor. (Mythatchedhut is not affiliated with this company and received no compensation for this endorsement. See the link below.)
Galapagos Path. No website
- Search for them on Facebook
- email galapagospath@gmail.com
- telephone +593 98 139 2305 or +593 96 941 6064
Thank you for this information! Everything else I have seen made it sound like a multi-night boat trip was the only option!
Hello Anne, Glad you found the information useful. There are many other travel tips on mythatchedhut.